Firearm.



J. D; PBDERSEN.

FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 1913.

Patented Feb. 17,1914.

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JOHN-D. rnnnnsniv, or JACKSON, WYOMING.

FIREARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

Application filed July 5, 1913. Serial No. 777,508.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN D. PEDERsEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Jackson, in the county of Uinta and State of Wyoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification.

My presentimprovements relate more especially to that class of firearms in which the frame and receiver,together constituting preferably a closed frame-work for the gun-mechanism,are separable by a movement of the frame downwardly out of engagement with interlocking guide faces suitably located on the two frame-work members.

The present invention is in part in the nature of an improvement on the takedown construction set forth in my prior application concurrently pending herewith, Serial No. 732,805, filed Nov. 22, 1912, to which reference may be had. Therefore, and as a matter of convenience, I have herein illustrated my present improvements as adapted and applied to a frame, as 22, and a receiver, as 21, otherwise of substantially the construction and proportions as shown in my said prior and co-pending application.

My present improvements are applicable to firearms having the frames or receivers of various proportions, and to those having various kinds and arrangements of operating mechanism within the receiver. These improvements, however, are particularly ap plicable as a means for assembling the two principal parts of the frame in that large class of small-arms which includes firearms of the kind illustrated and described in the Letters Patent of the United States, No. 963,171, granted to me July 5, 1910. In

that patent the gun-frame comprises theupper and forward member 21, usually designated as the receiver. and the lower and rearward member 22, which is therein designated as the trigger-plate, but which I herein designate as the guard-frame.

A principal object of my present invention is to provide an improved gun-frame construction or take-clown, whereby the firearm may be quickly separated at the usual point between the gun-stock and the gun-barrel, and, when thus taken down, may then be quickly reassembled by a curvilinear sliding movement of one part into interlocking engagement with the other part, this movement being transversely of the barrel.

Thus I provide for opening the mechanismchamber in the gun-frame, by effecting the described separation of the frame entirely by a transverse movement of one framepart relatively to the other, and thereby provide for certain details of the operating mechanism being removed from and replaced into operative relation to other details, without operating them and without interfering with their respective working positions.

In the drawing accompanying and form ing a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side view of parts of the frame-work'of a fire-arm made in accordance with my present invention, some portions being-broken away for more clearly illustrating certain details. Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the rearward endportion of the receiver, corresponding to a portion of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the guard-frame; this view also corresponds to a portion of Fig. 1, and is placed in a position relatively to Fig. 2, for indicating, (especially by comparison with Fig. 1,) the manner of assembling. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view in line J, J, Fig. 1, showing the parts at the left-hand of said line, as seen from a point at the right-hand thereof. end view of the guard-frame, and is drawn in alinement with Fig. 3, to facilitate comparison therewith. Fig. 6 is a view of the underside and forward end of the receiver, as seen from below in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, plan view in the direction of the arrow J Fig. 1, for more clearly illustrating the interlocking guide-ways. Fig. 8 is a sectional View in line J J Fig. l, for further illustrating the preferred arrangement of the interlocking features of the frame members.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the views.

The space within the receiver or framemember 21 constitutes the mechanismchamber of the firearm, and for convenience is hereinshown of a form and arrangement substantially corresponding to that illustrated in my said prior Patent No. 963,171. To facilitate comparisons, many of the parts are herein designated by the same characters as applied thereto in that prior patent.

The guard-frame, designated in a general way by 22, not only closes the lower side of the mechanism chamber by fitting in between the lower edges of the side-walls 21,

Fig. 5 is an 21, but also extends upwardly for guarding the rearward end of said chamber by forming an end wall therefor (see Figs. 1 and 8). By means of this arrangement, the usual breech-block (not shown) when slidable longitudinally of said chamber, is prevented from being driven rearwardly out of the chamber by the premature explosion of a cartridge, or otherwise. In some cases, an opening, as P, may be made in said rearward wall for the passage of some smaller part of the operative mechanism, as for instance an arm of the sear, illustrated in said prior patent.

The guard-frame 22 has a forwardly-facing surface 75 which may be arranged to face against the end-surface 75 of the rearward end of the receiver 21, and tothus form a part of the contacting surfaces be tween the guard-frame and receiver when these are in full engagement. The guardframe is also shown provided with a rearwardly-extending arm, at the left-hand of the face 7 5 and of any suitable size and shape, for use in connecting with the forward end of the usual gun-stock, (not shown).

In the arrangements as illustrated in my said prior patent, a retaining-pin, 48, constitutes a pivotal-connection between the two frame-members 21 and 22, and these members are there shown interlocked in such a manner as to require an initial sliding movement in a longitudinal direction, for disengaging that interlock before the guardframe 22 can be lowered, whereas in my present take-down construction that retaining-pin and the said longitudinal movement are entirely dispensed with.

Along its rearward portion, but forward of the face 7 5, the guard-arn1 22 is shown provided with the two upwardly-extending side-walls, 77 and 78, which fit between the receiver walls, as well shown in Fig. l. The usual trigger, as 46, may be located on a pivot, as 48, between said walls 77 and 78; but these features are not a part of my present improvements, and are only mentioned herein for indicating how any operative parts located on the guard-frame 22, may now be withdrawn directly downwardly away from the mechanism-chamber, and without any considerable forward or rearward movement of such withdrawable devices relatively to the receiver during the disassembling of the frame-members. Owing to the described location and arrangement of the ribs and grooves, which lie directly, or nearly directly, rearward of the barrel, any such interior members have little if any forward or rearward movement during such assembling or disassembling, and are therefore not materially affected as to their fit or contact pressures, by the slight turning movement of the receiver relatively to the guard-frame. This arrangement favors the effective action of the arm 22", which being suitably tensioned and locked against the bearing face 21 thereby becomes, as to its functions, a motor-arm for maintaining the desired turning effect or torque upon the receiver.

For engaging with the receiver 21, the frame 22 may have two vertically-extended bearing faces, as 75 and 15 arranged one of them, 15 on a curvature (Fig. 3) relatively to the other of them. The receiver is shown provided with the oppositely-disposed guide-way grooves, or channels, 17 and 17, and between these grooves and the end-face 7 5 (Figs. 2 and 6) has the guideribs 16 and 16. These ribs being forwardly curved, and arranged to engage with the reversely arranged and the non-parallel ribs 15 and 15, on the guard-frame, when these members are assembled, the two frame-members are readily slid apart by a direct downward and curvilinear movement of the guard-frame 22 relatively to the receiver 21. In the preferred arrangement as illustrated in the drawing, the forward faces of the ribs 15, 15 are forwardly curved, thus bringing its concave face 15 in position for resisting the rearward pressure of the receiver during the recoil. This concave face 15 is considerably divergent from the other said face 75, so that on assembling the frame into the receiver, these two faces come gradually together by a wedge-like action, thereby securing a reliable and effective connection and engagement of each frame-member with the other. A further feature is se cured by a special location of said concave, forwardly curved face 15 by which one part of this curved bearing face is directly crosswise of the line of action of the recoil. Forward of said face 75 the frame-member 22 is shown (as in said prior patent) provided with the long guard-arm 22 which, in practice, is slightly resilient and may eX- tend forwardly under the entire length of the mechanisnrchamber (Fig. 1) and there engage by its downwardly-facing catch-face 22 with the opposing face 21 on the crossconnection 21 at the forward end of the receiver (Figs. 1 and 3). The guard-frame is also provided with a stop-face at 22 located for engaging under the face 21 on the receiver, to serve as one means for limiting the sliding-together movement of the framemembers. When the frame members are sliding together, the face 22 will contact with the face 21 before the face 22 comes into locking engagement with the face 21. The arm 22 being now sprung upwardly, the bolt or catch 30 is then pushed forward by the operator pressing his finger forwardly against the checked surface, after which the bolt is held in place by the spring 3 The amount of the said catch-tension members, is to bring their bearing faces into a firm contact in the direction for transmitting the shock of firing from the receiver to the guard-frame and stock, without any play taking place, as between the two framemembers, and this result is obviously of much importance, especially in rifles for lon -range and accurate shooting. An advantage of this system of frame-construction is that the interlocking circular arcs are,and in themselves constitute,a joint which has an inter-engaging action not only as against a forward or rearward movement of one member relative to the other, but also as against a vertical movement, thus serving in an exceptionally effective manner for meeting all requirements, and constituting one means for limiting the sliding-together movement of the frame-members. At the same time, that peculiar interlocking arrangement, especially in combination with some suitable lock or latch device for the forward part of the frame-arm 22*, provides for the instant take-down of the gun, while avoiding the necessity for any screw or like device, and avoiding any projecting head for such a screw or connection. In my said prior application, Serial No. 732,805, such a screw was shown, with a head 18, by which to turn the screw; in my present im provement, any such' projecting head is rendered unnecessary. The guard-frame arm is subjected to the tensioning-flexure for the purpose of bringing the forward bearing into position for locking immediately after the contacting of said rearward stop face 21 with the guard-frame face 22R By these means, the guard-arm is maintained under tension by being sprung upwardly at its forward end before engaging with the receiver, and it thus operates as a motorarm for applying a constantly-active turning effect to the receiver upon its curvilinear guide-connection with the guide-frame, for thereby holding the freely-fitted and transversely disposed shock transmitting faces of the interlocking grooves and ribs, in firm contact. These interlocking and clamping features, especially in combination with the locking-faces 22 and 21*", result in a firm assembling of the two framemembers, while permitting them to be fitted for a free sliding of the one relatively to the other in both the operation of taking down and the operation of re-assembling, so that these operations. can be accomplished. with exceptional celerity and certainty.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a separable frame for small-arms, in combination, two frame-members, com prising a receiver having therein the mechanism-chamber, and a guard-frame therefor extending over the rearward end of the receiver and having an arm extending to near the forward end of and below said chamber, each said frame-member having transverse bearing faces and having forwardly thereof, curved grooves and rlbs arranged for in-,

each said frame-member having transverse bearing faces and having forwardly thereof, curved grooves and ribs arranged for interlocking sliding engagement and located transversely of the line of the barrel of the firearm, and a releasable assembling-lock arranged for detachably connecting together the frame members.

3. In a separable frame for small-arms, in combination, two frame-members, comprising a receiver having therein the mechanism-chamber, and a guard-frame therefor extending over the rearward end of the re-- ceiver and having an arm extending forwardly below said chamber, each said frame member having forwardly curved and interlocking grooves and ribs fitted for curvilinear sliding engagement and located transversely of the line of the barrel of the firearm for supplying shock-transmitting faces, a stop-face for limiting the sliding-together movement of theframe members, and a releasable holding means located at the forward part of said frame-arm for detachably connecting together the frame members.

a. In a separable frame for small-arms, the combination with a receiver having therein the mechanism-chamber, of a guardframe extending over the rearward end of the receiver and having an arm extending forwardly below said chamber for closing the same, each said frame-member having a pair of oppositely disposed and forwardly curved engaging faces arranged for interlocking sliding engagement at the rearward end of the receiver, and located for providing shock-transmitting faces; limiting means for the sliding-together movement of the frame-members; and frame-arm looking means located for coming into locking position on the tensioning-fiexure of the guard-frame subsequently to the operation of said limiting means for thereby releasably holding the said curved shock-transmitting faces in firm contact.

5. In a separable frame for small-arms,the combination with a receiver having therein and resilience may be regulated by suitably shaping the arm 22% and thus controlling the amount of the fiexure required to bring the locking-device 30 into locking position,

as in Fig. 3. lVhen the frame-parts are fully assembled, the interengagement of the described curved groove-faces and rib-faces is such that on a downward pressure of the guard-frame 22 relatively to the rearward end of the receiver 21, there is a tendency, owing to the locked-position of the forward end of the guard-frame arm 22 ,-for the upper part of the rib-faces 15 to move or swing against the coacting faces 17 of the receiver in an oblique direction, and thereby directly resist the sliding apart of the said frame members; and owing to these features and their peculiar mode of action, a relatively strong and rigid connection of the frame parts is secured, with only a relatively light stress being applied to the lockingface 22 The side-walls 21, of the receiver 21, are necessarily, in practice, slightly flexible owing to their relatively small thickness, and hence are readily closed onto the engaging guide-ways of the guard-frame, when the frame-members are assembled with the guard-arm 22 between said side-walls. For holding these side-walls from spreading, any suitable detents or stops may be employed, but I prefer the retaining-walls 4c and l, Fig. 7 arranged for their innerfaces to engage outside of the corresponding receiver faces. These side-wall retainers 4: and 4 are herein shownlocated in recesses, as indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and 8, thus making the outside of the retention device come about even with the outer surface of the receiver; but these are features which in practice may be modified in various ways wlthin the scope of my invention. The said arrangements, however, as herein illustrated provide for the proper sliding apart, and sliding together, of the frame-parts, while positively holding the receiver walls against spreading when the frame-members are fully assembled and locked.

The locking device, as 30,-whatever may be its specific form or character,is preferably so located as to have its working stroke in a direction substantially longitudinal relatively to the line of the barrel, and to have its lock-face, as 22 inclined or ar ranged in a manner whereby the recoil of the firearm may normally tend to tighten the locking engagement of said device with the frame member having the coacting abutment or lock-face, 21. In the particular form and arrangement of the locking device which I have selected forherein illustrating my present improvements, this device is carried on the guard-frame member 22, and has its working stroke in a rearward direction to release the frame members, and

in a forward direction,or opposite to the direct recoil action,to lock together those members, while both strokes are longitudinally of the barrel, (not shown). And the locking face 22 is inclined upwardly and forwardly (Figs. 1 and 3) so that on the direct recoil action taking place, the inertia of the locking-device coacts with the recoil to normally drive the locking faces 22 and 21 more firmly together and so tighten the locking engagement.

A further feature which I have shown in the frame-members and locking-device com bination, is a means for making this device normally self-acting in a direction in opposition to the direct recoil action, for thereby aiding that recoil action in tightening the locking engagement of the frame members, and for holding against accidental release any augmented interlock-stress thus obtained. For this purpose some suitable spring or locking-device-actuator may be arranged, as for instance the spring 3*, to constantly bear against the locking device, (either directly, or through some intermediate piece, as the pin 8*) in a direction for moving this device in the same direct-ion as normally moved by the recoil and the inertia acting together, this direction being toward the right-hand in Figs. 1, 3 and 6. Thus, in the preferred arrangement, on firingthe charge, the recoil, the inertia of the lockmgdevice, and the means for making this device normally self-acting, all coact in one direction for first moving and then together i retaining such device in secure engagement. In the operation of assembling the frame members, the forward arm 22 of the frame 22 serves as a powerful lever whereby the operator can by grasping his hand over the receiver, pull upward with great force and thereby bring the engaging faces of the 1nterlocking ribs and channels, as 15, 15 and 17, 17, into their fully closed position; and when this has been done, the pushing forward of the lock 30,with its incline 22 bearing on the inclined abutment 21, serves to further tighten and upwardly force the lever-arm 22, for completing and maintaining the frame parts assembled under a continuing tension tending to increase rather than reduce the firmness of their interlocking connection. During this assembling movement, of course the frame 22 moves in a curvilinear path, as determined by the curvature and location of the said ribs 15, 15 and channels l7, l7, and when these are circular arcs, the said frame-movement takes place as a rotary or swinging motion about the axis of the said guides, so that the entire frame may be said to operate as a lever swinging about a pivotal point located in space rearwardly of the receiver. A direct effect of this mode of connecting and tensioning the frame the mechanism-chamber and having near its rearward end the pair of forwardly-curved grooves 17 and 17 of a guard-frame eX- tending over the rearward end of the receiver and having the pair of forwardlycurved ribs, as 15 and 15 arranged for in terlocking sliding engagement with said curved receiver grooves, and also having an arm extending forwardly below said cham her; a stop-face at the rearward end of the receiver located for limiting the slidingtogether movement of the frame-members; and a lock-face on the guard-frame arm 10-- cated for engaging the receiver after the contacting of said receiver stop, substantially as described.

6. In a separable frame for smallarms, the combination with a receiver having therein the mechanism-chamber and having near its rearward end the pair of forwardlycurved grooves 17 and 17 divergent from the end face'thereof, of a guard-frame extending over the rearward end of the re ceiver and having the pair of forwardlycurved ribs 15 and 15 arranged for interlocking sliding engagement with said curved receiver grooves, and also having an arm extending forwardly below said chamber for closing the same, a stop-face at the rearward end of the receiver located for limiting the sliding-together movement of the frame-members; and releasable holding means located forwardly of the interlocking grooves and ribs for holding the guardframe against sliding out of the receiver.

7. In a firearm, the combination in a separable frame therefor, of the receiver having therein the mechanism-chamber, and havin side-walls, a guard-frame therefor extending over the rearward end of the receiver and having an arm extending below said chamber and between the side-walls of the receiver, said frame-members having curved grooves and ribs arranged for interlocking sliding engagement and located transversely of the line of the barrel of the firearm, stop-faces located for limiting the sliding-together movement of the frame members; and retaining faces located for engaging the side walls, for preventing the spreading thereof.

' 8. In a firearm, frame-members comprising a receiver having therein the mechanism-chamber, and a guard-frame extending over the rearward end of the receiver and having an arm extending forwardly below the receiver for closing said chamber, the said receiver and the guard-frame having interengaging means whereby these framemembers may be assembled by a sliding movement transversely of the line of barrel of the firearm, in combination with a locking device located for locking the guard-frame to the receiver by a working stroke in a direction opposite to the direct recoil action, whereby the recoil tends to tighten the locking engagement, substantially as described.

9. In a firearm, frame-members comprising a receiver having therein the mechanism-chamber, and a guard-frame extending over the rearward end of the receiver and having an arm extending forwardly below the receiver for closing said chamber, the said receiver and the guard-frame having interengaging means whereby these framemembers may be assembled by a sliding movement transversely of the line of barrel of the firearm, in combination with a locking device located for locking the guardframe to the receiver by a working stroke in a direction opposite to the direct recoil action, and a constantly-active locking-device actuator arranged for normally moving the locking device oppositely to the recoil action, whereby the recoil tends to tighten the locking engagement, and the locking-device-actuator tends to retain the interlockstress thus obtained, substantially as described.

JOHN D. PEDERSEN. Witnesses:

W. F. LAWRENCE, JOHNSON MORGAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

